Map Navigation Interface Through a Foldable Mobile Device

ABSTRACT

A foldable touch screen display device made up of flexible or tiled display segments that can be folded from a compact state to an expanded state which also includes a map navigation interface. The form factor of the compact state is roughly the size of a typical handheld phone or smaller. The form factor of the expanded state is roughly the size of a larger phone or tablet computer, which may also include the mechanical functionality of a laptop. The device form factor may also be a flip phone configuration. Both folded states may include an integrated speaker and microphone. The map navigation interface can provide enhanced interaction and viewing of 2D and 3D maps by utilizing the inherent folding mechanics and position of each segment with the device. Other 2D and 3D applications can also be utilized with the same techniques. The device may further include sensors to indicate the position of each display segment. In one embodiment, a module attached to, situated within, or otherwise associated with at least one segment of the flexible display or rigid display may contain all or substantially all processing and memory, along with a communications system, which may be used in any folded state.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/111,049, filed on Nov. 8, 2020, which is incorporatedin its entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to computing devices, and moreparticularly, to a computing device with a touch screen display that canbe folded from a compact state to an expanded state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of handheld computing devices today has been significantlyenabled by a number of advancements in electronics, including theminiaturization of components, an increase in processing speeds,improved memory capacity, and the optimization of battery efficiency.Advancements in touch screen display technology have also enabledinterfaces to become more adaptable and intuitive to use on a smallscale. Because of these enormous improvements over the last decade, thedifferences in the performance between handheld computing devices, suchas mobile phones, and larger computing devices, have become increasinglysubtle.

One of the great difficulties in using a small-scale touch screendevice, however, is in the fact that it can often be cumbersome tophysically interact with. This is especially apparent when selecting andmanipulating features and inputting text, which can sometimes beimprecise for a user. In such handheld computing devices as a touchscreen mobile phone, the limited size of the display can alsosignificantly reduce the viewing capacity while watching videos, usinggraphic intensive applications, and reading text. The rigid nature of astandard touch screen display can also limit the portability of a devicewhen its form factor is in the larger size range for a phone, or at thescale of a tablet, which makes folding a desirable feature.Additionally, because a foldable device fundamentally has a hingemechanism built in, when utilizing software applications, the hinge andhaving multiple display segment is not always optimized to accommodatethe enhancement and functionality of standard software applications.

There is therefore a need for touch screen display devices that can beadjusted in size without sacrificing the convenience of being small andhandheld. There is also a need for map navigation interface that canutilize the inherent hinge mechanics and various positions that thedisplay segments of a foldable device can be configured to. There isalso a need for other 3D and 2D software applications where these sameinherent hardware features of a foldable device can help enhancefunctionality, such as with a 3D dimensional modeling program andvarious other applications that utilize 2D and 3D environments.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A foldable touch screen display device made up of flexible or tileddisplay segments that can be folded from a compact state to an expandedstate which also includes a map navigation interface. The form factor ofthe compact state is roughly the size of a typical handheld phone orsmaller. The form factor of the expanded state is roughly the size of alarger phone or tablet computer, which may also include the mechanicalfunctionality of a laptop. The device form factor may also be a flipphone configuration. Both folded states may include an integratedspeaker and microphone. The map navigation interface can provideenhanced interaction and viewing of 2D and 3D maps by utilizing theinherent folding mechanics and position of each segment with the device.Other 2D and 3D applications can also be utilized with the sametechniques. The device may further include sensors to indicate theposition of each display segment. In one embodiment, a module attachedto, situated within, or otherwise associated with at least one segmentof the flexible display or rigid display may contain all orsubstantially all processing and memory, along with a communicationssystem, which may be used in any folded state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable computing device shown inthree separate positions where one segment remains fixed displaying a 2Dmap while the other segment is being rotated to vary 3D views of a 3Dmap that corresponds to the 2D map.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard,discussions utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulates and/or transforms datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information non-transitory storage medium thatmay store instructions to perform operations and/or processes. Althoughembodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, the terms“plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein may include, for example,“multiple” or “two or more”. The terms “plurality” or “a plurality” maybe used throughout the specification to describe two or more components,devices, elements, units, parameters, or the like. Unless explicitlystated, the method embodiments described herein are not constrained to aparticular order or sequence. Additionally, some of the described methodembodiments or elements thereof can occur or be performedsimultaneously, at the same point in time, or concurrently.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a foldablecomputing device 11 where the display segment shown to the right side,segment 19, remains fixed along the ground plane axis while segment 17is shown being rotated into three positions, 51, 53, and 55 about hinge18 which is situated between display segments 17 and 19. The position ofsegment 17 is determined by a user's physical force applied to thesegment to achieve a desired folded angle which corresponds to a view ofthe 3D map that represent the same angle that the segment is positionedin. In position 51, since segment 17 is configured with its edgepointing upward such that the face of the display is at approximately aright angle to the 3D map or environment being shown, an elevation viewis displayed on the device's segment 17, in this case an elevation viewof buildings within a city map is shown. In position 53, as the segment17 is rotated closer to a 45 degree angle, a corresponding angled viewof the 3D map view is shown resulting in an angled view looking down atthe buildings shown in the city map within the embodiment. In position55, as segment 17 is rotated closer to the ground plane angle, the 3Dview shows a top view with a slight angle as the position is notperfectly flat. In each of these positions, 53, 55, and 57, segment 19remains in a fixed position while showing the 2D map that correspondsdirectly with the 3D map shown on segment 17. The 2D map can be moved inthe same way that a standard map on a touch screen display can be moved,while the 3D view can also be changed through standard touch screenfinger gestures as well. In position 55, this is highlighted where the2D map is shown shifted to the top part of the display segment 19, whichsimultaneously moves the corresponding 3D view towards the top part ofthe display as well. For other kinds of 3D environments, the sameinterface features can be used, such as with a 2D mechanical drawingthat would simultaneously display its 3D drawing on the opposite segmentwhere angling that segment can then change the 3D view.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: (a) a flexibletouch-sensitive display composed of a first flexible touch-sensitivedisplay portion and a second flexible touch-sensitive display portion;wherein: (1) the first flexible touch-sensitive display portion isattached to a first structural support segment; (2) the second flexibletouch-sensitive display portion is attached to a second structuralsupport segment; (3) the flexible touch-sensitive display furthercomprises having a fully folded state; (4) the flexible touch-sensitivedisplay further comprises having a partially expanded state; (5) theflexible touch-sensitive display further comprises having a fullyexpanded state; (b) a map navigation interface whereby at least oneflexible touch-sensitive display portion and structural support segmentcan be rotated about the hinge of the apparatus to provide a 3D view ofa map such that as the segment rotates, the angle of the 3D viewcorresponds to the angle of the display segment.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein: the map navigation interface shows a 2D map on at leastone display segment as the corresponding 3D map is shown on the oppositedisplay segment such that when either map view is moved north, south,east, and west, the movement is synched between both views.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein: the map navigation interface includes atleast one accelerometer to detect the position of the flexibletouch-sensitive display structural support segments relative to eachother and the ground plane.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the mapnavigation interface includes at least one encoder to detect theposition of the flexible touch-sensitive display structural supportsegments relative to each other.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:the fully folded state comprises a fully folded angle between the firstflexible touch sensitive display component and the second flexibletouch-sensitive display component that is less than 10 degrees; and thefully expanded state comprises a fully expanded angle between the firstflexible touch-sensitive display component and the second flexibletouch-sensitive display component that is between 170 and 190 degrees;and the partially expanded state comprises an angle that falls betweenthe fully folded state and the fully expanded state.
 6. An apparatuscomprising: (a) a rigid touch-sensitive display; (b) a flexibletouch-sensitive display composed of a first flexible touch-sensitivedisplay portion and a second flexible touch-sensitive display portion;wherein: (1) the first flexible touch-sensitive display portion isattached to a first structural support segment; (2) the second flexibletouch-sensitive display portion is attached to a second structuralsupport segment; (3) the flexible touch-sensitive display furthercomprises having a fully folded state; (4) the flexible touch-sensitivedisplay further comprises having a partially expanded state; (5) theflexible touch-sensitive display further comprises having a fullyexpanded state; (b) a map navigation interface whereby at least oneflexible touch-sensitive display portion and structural support segmentcan be rotated about the hinge of the apparatus to provide a 3D view ofa map such that as the segment rotates, the angle of the 3D viewcorresponds to the angle of the display segment.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 6 wherein: the map navigation interface shows a 2D map on at leastone display segment as the corresponding 3D map is shown on the oppositedisplay segment such that when either map view is moved north, south,east, and west, the movement is synched between both views.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein: the map navigation interface includes atleast one accelerometer to detect the position of the flexibletouch-sensitive display structural support segments relative to eachother and the ground plane.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: themap navigation interface shows a 2D map on at least one display segmentas the corresponding 3D map is shown on the opposite display segmentsuch that when either map view is moved north, south, east, and west,the movement is synched between both views.
 13. The apparatus of claim11 wherein: the map navigation interface includes at least oneaccelerometer to detect the position of the touch-sensitive displaystructural support segments relative to each other and the ground plane.14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the map navigation interfaceincludes at least one encoder to detect the position of thetouch-sensitive display structural support segments relative to eachother.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the fully folded statecomprises a fully folded angle between the first touch-sensitive displaycomponent and the second touch-sensitive display component that is lessthan 10 degrees; and the fully expanded state comprises a fully expandedangle between the first touch sensitive display component and the secondtouch-sensitive display component that is between 170 and 190 degrees;and the partially expanded state comprises an angle that falls betweenthe fully folded state and the fully expanded state.